New North to host NE WI Supplier Diversity Symposium

New North Inc. will hold a free event to help minority- and women-owned businesses learn how they can receive a Minority Business Enterprise or Women Business Enterprise certification. The Northeast Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Symposium will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Thrivent Financial, 4321 N. Ballard Road, Appleton.

Ethnic-minority businesses are eligible to receive certification as an MBE through the North Central Minority Supplier Development Council, and women-owned businesses can be certified nationally as a WBE by the Women’s Business Development Council. With either of these designations, companies put themselves in a unique position to promote and market their services to prospective corporate buyers.

Corporations seeking to develop a supplier diversity program, or to enhance an existing one, also are invited to attend the symposium. They will learn how the NCMSDC and WBDC can serve as a liaison between their purchasing teams and minority- or women-owned businesses.

Onsite registration for the event begins at 8 a.m., followed by welcoming remarks at 8:30. The keynote speech — “What is Supplier Diversity and Why Does it Matter?” — takes place at 9 a.m. Panel discussions on corporate supplier diversity programs and MWBE/corporate partnerships follow at 9:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively. The event closes with networking opportunities.

The symposium is sponsored by the North Central Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women’s Business Development Center, Thrivent Financial, ManPower Group, the Fox Cities Chamber and New North Inc. To preregister, visit https://tinyurl.com/Diver